Do I need ACDF??? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

paradiddle · 12-01-2006, 08:11 PM

I don't know if I have serious enough symptoms for ACDF?

I have been to Neurosurgeon/MRI. He recommended ACDF. Diagnosis was compressed spinal cord in C-5 and C-6. I seen the MRI with the squished spinal cord in those areas. Scheduled for surgery Dec 18. I also have Kyphosis. Doc said I may need work in C-7 at some point later. He wants to use allograft (donor bone) and also uses titanium hardware. I will be fitted with a neck brace after.

History of neck muscle spasms from 2 motorcycle accidents in 98 and 05. I had been the chriopractor (3) route after both incidents with not much success. I have also been to (4) PT depts and another doctor who gave me trigger point shots to reduce spasm. After the last accident I have had problems with numb fingers and thumbs. I don't drop things or have a great loss of strength but it does concern me. I walk ok and don't have any headaches. I do have problems working on computers and stressful situations. I believe I have hypermobile ligaments and can only find relief by stretching head to shoulder and manipulating neck until I get a pop.

I am hoping that surgery will eliminate my spasms as well as eliminate numbness. What made me go to neurosurgeon was a statement that my last chiropractor made and said I had no curve in my neck. I did some internet research and learned about kyphosis and found out about neurosurgeons.

BobM · 12-01-2006, 08:19 PM

I think only you and a surgeon you trust can answer your question. You will probably get responses from those who would, and would not.

For the, there were two issues - pain, and nerve damage that was causing atrophy and loss of use of my left arm and hand. I had had problems for over 10 years, and then quickly got worse (like less than 2 months) - couldn't even hold on to a steering wheel on that side. The surgeon advised me I was risking permanent nerve damage if I waited longer. It took a couple of operations, but I have my arm back, and still some pain but much less. If I had just had the pain, terrible as it was, I don't know what I would have decided. But permanent loss of the use of an arm made it a straightforward decision for me.

Best luck!
Bob

SpineAZ · 12-02-2006, 12:00 AM

Each person is different - for me it came down to a quality of life issue. Too often the pain and spasms were getting in the way of me living my life the way I wanted too - I found myself limiting my physical activity and even getting a bit grumpy when the pain lasted too long. In addition I had a hard time doing my desk job on occasion which was of course something I had to remedy.

I have always been of the mindset for myself that if I am 'suffering' and there is a way to fix it then I should go ahead and seek the fix. So for me the ACDF was the beginning of a better way of living (less pain, etc).

paradiddle · 12-02-2006, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kross426

Each person is different - for me it came down to a quality of life issue. Too often the pain and spasms were getting in the way of me living my life the way I wanted too - I found myself limiting my physical activity and even getting a bit grumpy when the pain lasted too long. In addition I had a hard time doing my desk job on occasion which was of course something I had to remedy.

I have always been of the mindset for myself that if I am 'suffering' and there is a way to fix it then I should go ahead and seek the fix. So for me the ACDF was the beginning of a better way of living (less pain, etc).

Thanks... I would get a bit grumpy too. I would sometimes get very agitated with people that did not understand. I told them to imagine someone with a pair of pliers squeezing on my right side of neck. Same problems as you with work. I got promoted to do computer drafting and programming all day long. I found it very hard to complete the day.

After reading everyone elses stories of "severe" pain and total numbness I didn't think I qualified. On my first visit to NS he was not sure I needed anything after physical examination. He scheduled MRI because I had exhausted other avenues. After MRI he changed his tune and said I was a surgical candidate.

I would like to hear from others... thanks

SKZ · 12-02-2006, 08:38 AM

Well I dont have any herniated disks. I have bulging disks and alot of arthritis. I am ALWAYS in a ton of pain for close to 5 yrs. I also have some arm pain and numbness in both hands. I tried EVERYTHING. My physiatrist said we were at the end of the line and he is sending me to a surgeon on Dec. 19th. I am likely to have the surgery (ACDF) at C5-6. and C6-7, before Xmas. I am not sure about C4-5 until I see the surgeon. I already had a discogram which recreated the pain at C5-C7. I am just to the point where I cant take the pain anymore and its bound to decrease with the surgery. I have limited so much of my activites...mostly because I cannot sit for any real length of time. Its really changed my lifestyle. I am 50 going on 70 at this rate. I also substitute teach in elem. school and the standing all day is really rough, too. I could never sit at a computer all day. I would have to be carted off to a mental hospital at the end of the day, if I did.